Edge guide

ABSTRACT

A fluidic circuit and manifold arrangement is provided for achieving control of the position of the edge of a moving web of paper or other strip material. The circuit manifold is provided with a cavity to which pressurized fluid is supplied from an external source. Pressurized fluid is then available to any part of a fluid circuit disposed over the cavity and selectively communicating therewith through a subplate. The fluid circuit, comprising only three fluid elements, senses fluid signals supplied by a pair of fluid edge sensors to move the web left or right as commanded by the signals from the sensors.

United States Patent Inventor Harry C. Bray, Jr. [56] References Cited A l N 25232 UNITED STATES PATENTS pp o. Filed Nov. 21,1968 3,260,434 7/1966 Jacobsen 226/22X Patented Feb. 16, 1971 Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles Assignee Bowles Engineering Corporation Attorney-Hurvitz, Rose & Greene Silver Spring, Md.

ti t M l d acorpon ono My an ABSTRACT: A fluidic circuit and manifold arrangement is provided for achieving control of the position of the edge of a moving web of paper or other strip material. The circuit E GUIDE manifold is provided with a cavity to which pressurized fluid is 6clalmszomwmg supplied from an external source. Pressurized fluid is then [1.8. CI 242/511; available to any part of a fluid circuit disposed over the cavity 226/22; 137/815; 73/37.7 and selectively communicating therewith through a subplate. Int. Cl .L B65h 25/08 The fluid circuit, comprising only three fluid elements, senses Field of Search 226/15, 16, fluid signals supplied bya pair of fluid edge sensors to move 17, 18, l9,20,2l,22,23; 73/37.7; 137/815, 82, the web left or right as commanded by the signals from the 83; 242/57.l sensors.

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I I a" '\'P( {6 29 95 31 4 3| '27 I8 \Y/ J\ PATENTED FEB] 6 I97! 3.563484 sum 1 OF 2 INVENTOR HARRY c. BRAY, Jr.

ATTORNEYS PATENT-ED FEB] s m 3563;484

' sum 2 0F 2 5-" INVENTOR- HARRY c. BRMJ ATTORNEY$ EDGEGUIDE BACKGROUND OF TI-IE INVENTION It is an object of. the present invention BRIEF provide a s im ple, highly reliable and inexpensive edge guide circuit employing fluidic sensors and fluidic circuit control elements. It is these circuits, however, employ photoelectric cells and like sources and are coupled to electronic circuits which through transducers effect control of the web position. There are numerous methods for positioning the edge of a web, one of these being to move up or down one end of a shaft onwhich the roll from which the web is drawn, is positionedUpward movement of one end of the shaft relative to the other end of the shaft causes the web to move in the direction towards the stationary end of the shaft, whereas lowering the movable end of the shaft usually causes the web to move away-from the fixed end of the shaft.

The difficulty with such devices comes about as a result of the use of light sources, photocells andelectronic circuits. First of all, the photoelectric devices give difficulty incertain environments, such as, environments of high heat or environments of high dirt contact- In the former case, the heat damages the light sources or the photocells'and in the latter case the'windows in front of the photocells become clouded with dirt, dust and related materials and must be constantly Cleaned to insure proper performance of the system. Electronic circuits on the other hand are subject to failure, often without the operator realizing that a difficultyhas been encountered.

Other types of edge sensors" are availablesuch as magnetic sensors. Such sensors are not very sensitive toedge position and are relatively expensive as-are the photoelectric circuit devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present inventiomthere is provided a fluidic edge sensor apparatus which is relatively insensitive to its environment, particularly to heat and also considerably more insensitive to dirt and dust in the environment in which it operates than are the photoelectric devices of the prior art. In addition, the apparatus employs a pure fluid or fluidic system which responds to air-operated edge sensors to provide the necessary control signals for positioning the web. Fluidic devices are known to be extremely reliable, operating many, many hundreds and thousands of hours without service, and in addition providing moretan adequate response-timeswith a high degree of circuit simplicity and economy.

The edge guide sensor of the present invention employs two edge sensors, both of which direct a stream of air against an orifice. When the stream of air is not interrupted by the web and is directed against such orifice, the stream backloads a fluidic monostable device so as to switch the device to its unstable state. The circuit is arranged such that when the web is properly positioned, one of the edge' guides has its stream blocked and the other edge guide has its stream unblocked. So long as his condition subsists, an output control signal is not generated by the fluidic circuit. If the condition of one of the edge guides changes, i.e., that is, a stream that issupposed to be blocked is not blocked or that a stream that 'is not to be blocked is blocked, the circuit, which consists of simply three fluidic elements, switches so as to provide an output signal inanother object of the present invention to provide an edge guide control for a moving web of strip material; such as, paper, sheet steel or similar weblike material which system employs pressurized air for sensing the position of a web,

sensing signals being produced by interruption or lack of interruption of airstreams and controlling a three-element fluidic circuit which may be employed to produce output circuits operation via appropriate transducers to reposition the web.

dicative of which of the two edge guide sensors is operating in one surface thereof to provide the fluidic elements, the channeled surface being covered by a subplate to seal the channels.

The subplate is then sealed to a manifold which is interiorly recessed and supplied with pressure which may be employed to energize the power nozzles of the fluidic devices and also to provide at least some of the pressurized fluid employed in the position sensing function.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS mechanisms necessary to maintain position of a moving web of material.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring specifically to FIG. I. of the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a perspective vi'ewof a manifold surface, as viewed in FIG. 1, symmetrically located in the major plane of the manifold and bounded by a relativelywide peripheral ledge 3. Extending from front surface 4 of the manifold, as viewed in FIG. 1, are a plurality of tubes 6 formed integrally with the material of the manifold 1. These tubes which, for example only, are 13 in number are hollow and communicate interiorly with two right angled passages 7 and 8, with the passages 7 being located in the horizontal plane in a position illustrated in FIG. 1 and the passages 8 being located in the vertical plane. The passages 8 terminate in apertures 9 in the surface?! of the manifold-Thus, a continuous flow connection is provided between the egress orifices of the tubes 6 and the apertures 9. One further pin 6' is provided which extends from the front surface 4 as the pin 6 but communicates with the interior 2 of the manifold via a passage 8.

Supply pressure may be supplied to the cavity 2 for purposes to become apparent subsequently.

There is further provided a circuit plate 11 of the same out- .side dimensions as the manifold I and a subplate 12 which is disposed between the manifold land the circuit plate 11. The subplate 12 is bonded to the bottom surface of the circuit plate 11 to seal channels formed in the undersurface of the circuit plate It, as viewed in FIG. 1. The subplate I2 is also bonded to the ledge 3 of the manifold l to seal the volume 2 located interiorly of the manifold. Appropriately located holes in the subplate 12 provide communication between the circuit plate and apertures 9 and if desired the interior of the manifold.

When the elements I, l1 and 12 are all bonded together there is provided a circuit system which is adapted to be edge mounted into a base block. Specifically the pins 6 plug into corresponding holes formed in such a block, the tolerances being such as to provide a sufficiently tight seal for the intended purpose, between the pins and the apertures formed in the base block. The side of the block opposite the pin-receiving apertures is provided with pins to facilitate circuit interl connections.

Referring now specifically to FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated the entire edge guide control system of the present invention including the edge sensors, the central circuitry and the position control apparatus. A web of paper 16 which maybe supplied from a roll 17 supported on a shaft 18, is guided between two edge guided sensors 19 and 21 respectively. The sensors are generally U-shaped members with one leg above and one leg below the edge of the paper. The upper legs of both sensors which upper legs are generally designated by the reference numerals 22 and 23 respectively, have orifices 24 and 26 extending vertically therethrough respectively. Positioned directly below and aligned with the orifices 24 and 26 and located in lower legs 27 and 28 of the sensors 19 and 21 respectively, are orifices or passages 29 and 31. The orifices 29 and 31 are adapted to receive fluid under pressure and direct fluid upwardly toward the associated orifices 24 and 26. The orifice 24 is connected via suitable conduit 32 to a region 33 positioned along the right edge, as viewed in FIG. 2, of a circuit plate 34. The orifice 26 is coupled via suitable conduit 36 to a further input region 37 also located along the right edge region of the circuit plate 34.

Located on a circuit plate 34 are channels defining three monostable fluidic switches 38, 39 and 41. The devices 38, 39 and 41 are provided with power nozzles 42, 43 and 44 respectively. Pressurized fluid is supplied from the recessed region 2 of the manifold 1 via passages extending through the subplate 12 of the structure 2. The element 38 is provided with lower and upper control nozzles 49 ad 51 respectively, as viewed in FIG. 2 and two output passages 52 and 53 which are the lower and upper output passages respectively. The nozzle 49 is connected via a passage 54 to the input region 33 to which is also connected P+ from a region 57 through a fluidic resistor 56. The region 57 is connected to the interior region 2 of the manifold 1 through an appropriately located passage in the subplate 12. Output passages 52 and 53 of the fluidic element are provided with vents 58 and 59 respectively. The vents communicate with ambient or atmospheric pressure via holes drilled through the plate 11 egressing through the top surface thereof as viewed in FIG. 1. Monostability is introduced into the element 38 by connecting the control passage 51 to the vent 59. Thus in the element 38 the power stream issued by the nozzle 42 is directed to the output passage 52 in the absence of an input signal.

The output passage 53 of the element 38 is connected to an output region 61 located around the right edge region of the circuit plate 34 and is also connected via a channel 62 to a right control nozzle 63 as viewed in FIG. 2 of the element 39. The right control nozzle 63 of the element 39 is also connected via a passage 64 to an upper output passage 66 of the element 41. The element 39 is provided with a left control passage 67 connected to a vent 68 to introduce monostability into the apparatus. Right output passage 69 of the element 39 is connected via passage 71 to an output region 72 of the circuit plate 34. Left output passage 70 of element 39 is connected to a dump passage 73. The element 41 is provided with a lower input passage or nozzle 74 and upper input passage 76 connected to a vent 77 to introduce monostability into the device. The vent 77 is in communication also with the output passage 66 of the apparatus. The lower control passage 74 of the element 41 is connected via a passage 78 to input region 37 of the circuit plate. Also connected to the input region 37 is P+ which is supplied via a fluidic resistor 79 from the source region 57.

In operation, the paper web 16 is properly positioned when it blocks flow of fluid from the orifice 29 of the sensor 19 to the orifice 24 and does not block and therefore permits fluid from the region 31 of the sensor 21 to impinge upon the orifice 26 thereof. Under these conditions the orifice 26 is backloaded and a high impedance to flow of the pressurized fluid from the region 37 is presented. Under these circumstances pressurized fluid is supplied to the input nozzle 74 of the monostable element 41 and fluid is supplied to its output passage 66. Fluid supplied to the passage 66 flows through the channel 64 to the input control passage 63 of the element 39. The power stream of the element 39 is therefore diverted to the dump vent 73 and fluid is not supplied to its output passage 69 and therefore the output signal region 72 has no fluid supplied thereto.

Concurrently, with the paper web 16 in the proper position, fluid from the passage 29 does not impinge upon the orifice 24 an the pressurized fluid supplied to the region 33 escapes through the orifice 24 and back pressure is not developed in this region. Thus a pressurized signal is not supplied to the input passage or control passage 49 of the monostable fluidic unit 38 and the stream is diverted to the output passage 52 and is dumped. If the paper web moves sufficiently, for instance, to the left, as viewed in FIG. 2, the fluid stream issued by the orifree 31 is blocked and the input region 37 of the circuit plate 34 looses its pressure. The pressurized signal is now removed from the input control passage 74 of the monostable unit 41. The power stream of element 41 switches to the dump 48 and pressure is removed from the control passage 63 of the element 39. The power stream of the element 39 is now directed to its output channel 69 and pressurizes the output region 72 of the circuit plate. Thus a signal appearing at the output region 72 indicates that the paper-web should be moved to the right as viewed in FIG. 2.

If the paper web moves too far to the right and permits the fluid stream issued by the orifice 29 to impinge upon the orifice 24 the power control nozzle 39 of the element 38 is pressurized and the power stream is diverted to the output passage 53. The output region-61 of the circuit plate 34 is now energized the signal indicating that the paper web is to be moved to the left as viewed in FIG. 2. It will be noted that when the power stream flows to the output passage 53 fluid proceeds through the passage 62 and pressurizes the control nozzle 63 of the element 39. This insures that the power stream of the element 39 is diverted to the dump passage 73 and that no signal can appear at the output region 72 of the apparatus.

The output signals appearing at the region 61 and 72 of the circuit plate 34 may now be employed by an appropriate control system to reposition the paper. One such central system is illustrated in FIG. 2 and effects control by moving one edge of the paper roll 17 up or down depending upon the paper movement desired. More particularly, the shift 18 on which the paper roll 17 is positioned may be moved up and down at its right end as viewed in FIG. 2 while its left end, which is not illustrated, is fixed; that is, cannot move other than for rotational movement. If the right end of the axis 18 is moved up then the left edge of the paper moves to the left, as viewed in FIG. 2, whereas if the right end of the shaft 18 is moved downwardly, the left edge of the paper moves to the right. The signals developed at the output regions 61 and 72 of the circuit plate 34 may be employed to control a spool valve generally designated by the reference numeral 81. Spool valve 81 is provided with pressurized fluid via a passage 82 which is introduced generally centrally of valve body 88. A spool 83 has a central region 84 of reduced diameter and two end regions at opposite ends of the region 84, the end regions 86 and 87 substantially filling the interior of the cylindrical casing a body 88 of the valve 81. Output ports 89 and 91 are provided through the casing 88 of the spool valve.

The spool 83 is held centered by two relatively light springs 93 and 94 designating the upper and lower springs respectively, as viewed in FIG. 2. The output passage 89 communicates via appropriate conduit 96 with the down input control of a piston arrangement 97 adapted to move the right end of the shaft 18 up or down. The output region 92 of the spool valve 81 is connected via a conduit 96 with an up input control 99 of the valve 97. Pressurized fluid to the P+ supply 82 of the valve may be provided from circuit plate 34 by connection to an edge region of the plate, for instance, region 100, which may be connected via a channel in subplate 12 of FIG. 1 to the interior region 2 of manifold 1.

In operation, if the web of paper moves too far to the left, a signal appears at the output region 72 and a spool valve 83 is shifted downward as viewed in FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings. The output region 92 of the spool valve is now uncovered and is coupled to the P+ supply via the passage 82. The line 98 is now pressurized and introduces a move down" signal to input 95 of controller 97. The right end of the shift 18 is now moved downwardly and the paper web is shifted to the right.

If the paper web has shifted too far to the right, a positive pressure appears at the output region 61 of the circuit plate 34 and the spool 83 of the spool valve 81 is moved up as viewed in FIG. 2. The conduit 96 is now pressurized and provides a move up" control to the controller 97. The right end of the shaft 18 is now move upwardly and moves the web to the left.

Thus it is seen that a simple three-element fluidic circuit is employed in conjunction with two fluidic eyes and an interface spool valve to obtain complete control over the position of a paper web.

Although the reference herein has been in all instances to a paper web, it is quite apparent that the particular nature of the material whose position is being sensed is immaterial to the operation of the apparatus of the present invention. The apparatus of the present invention is particularly useful as an edge guide for hot materials such as hot rolled steel and other hot rolled metals since there is no part of the sensing apparatus which can be effected by the heat of the material other than the sensors 19 and 21 which may be fabricated from appropriate metals or other substances.

It should be noted the resistors 56 ad 79 are chosen such as to introduce a specific sensitivity into the circuit and design of the resistors depends upon the particular size and design of the fluidic elements and of the pressure of the fluid available at the input regions 33 and 37. In any event, the pressures applied to the control nozzles 49 and 74 should be in the range of up to approximately one-third of the power supplied to the as sociated power nozzles 42 and 44 respectively.

While I have described and illustrated one specific embodiment of my invention, it will be clear that variations of the details of construction which are specifically illustrated and described may be resorted to without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

l claim:

1. An edge guide for a traveling strip of material comprising:

first and second sensor means for sensing the position of the edge of a web of material;

said sensor means being located such as to establish first and second signals respectively when said web is in a proper position and third and fourth signals when said web has moved a predetermined distance to one side and another, respectively, of its proper location;

signal responsive means for moving a web' in one and another direction upon the application of one and another control signal thereto;

fluidic means responsive to said third signal for generating said one control signal;

further fluidic means responsive to said fourth signal for generating said another control signal;

means for applying said control signals to said signal responsive means; wherein said fluidic means and said further fluidic means each comprises: a monostable fluidic switch having two stable states, a power nozzle, an output passage and control means comprising a control nozzle for changing said states; v

wherein said sensor means each comprises an orifice for issuing a stream of fluid, means for issuing a further stream of fluid toward said orifice of sufficient dynamic pressure to restrict flow of fluid from said orifice when said further 2. The combination according to claim I, wherein said fluidic means comprise:

a. a plate;

b. channels in a surface of said plate defining said fluidic means;

c. a subplate sealing channels found in said plate;

d. a manifold having a recessed surface defining a volume;

e. said subplate being secured to said recessed surface to seal said volume;

f. means supplying pressurized fluid to said volume; and

g. apertures in said subplate providing communications between said pressurized fluid to said power nozzles and orifices.

3. An edge guide for a traveling strip of material comprising:

sensor means for sensing the position of said traveling strip of material in a direction transverse to the direction of travel, said sensor means including means for developing a fluid signal at first and second amplitudes, respectively, when said traveling strip of material is in first and second positions;

a fluidic element including an interaction region, a power nozzle responsive to pressurized fluid applied thereto for issuing a power stream of fluid into said interaction region, an output passage positioned to receive said power stream as a function of deflection of said power stream in said interaction region, and a control passage responsive to fluid signals applied thereto for issuing a control stream to deflect said power stream as a function of the amplitude of the applied fluid signals; and

means for applying the fluid signal developed at-said sensor means to said control passage.

4. The combination according to claim 3 further comprising means responsive to reception of substantially all of said power stream at said output passage for moving said traveling strip of material transverse to its direction of travel.

5. The combination according to claim 4 further comprising means responsive to power stream fluid received by the output passage of said first fluidic element when said first fluid signal is at said first pressure for moving said strip in said second direction, and responsive to power stream fluid received by the output passage of said second fluidic element when said second fluid signal is at said one pressure for moving said strip in said first direction.

6. An edge guide for a traveling strip of material comprising:

first sensor means for sensing displacement of said traveling strip of material from a proper position in a first direction transverse to the direction of travel of said strip, said first sensor means including means for developing a first fluid signal at a first pressure when said strip is displaced from said proper position in said first direction by at least a predetermined distance and at a second pressure when said strip is otherwise positioned;

second sensor means for sensing displacement of said traveling strip of material from said proper position in a second direction opposite said first direction, said second sensor means including means for developing a second fluid signal at one pressure when said strip is displaced from said proper position in said second direction by at least a predetermined distance and at another pressure when said strip is otherwise positioned;

first and second fluidic elements, each including an interaction region, a power nozzle responsive to application of pressurized fluid thereto for issuing a power stream of fluid into said interaction region, an output passage for receiving said power stream as a function of power stream deflection in said interaction region, and a control passage responsive to pressurized fluid applied thereto for issuing a control stream to deflect said power stream relative to said output passage as a function of the pressure of the applied fluid;

means for applying the fluid signal developed at said first sensor means to the control passage of said first fluidic element; and

means for applying the fluid signal developed at said second sensor means to the control passage of said second fluidic element. 

1. An edge guide for a traveling strip of material comprising: first and second sensor means for sensing the position of the edge of a web of material; said sensor means being located such as to establish first and second signals respectively when said web is in a proper position and third and fourth signals when said web has moved a predetermined distance to one side and another, respectively, of its proper location; signal responsive means for moving a web in one and another direction upon the application of one and another control signal thereto; fluidic means responsive to said third signal for generating said one control signal; further fluidic means responsive to said fourth signal for generating said another control signal; means for applying said control signals to said signal responsive means; wherein said fluidic means and said further fluidic means each comprises: a monostable fluidic switch having two stable states, a power nozzle, an output passage and control means comprising a control nozzle for changing said states; wherein said sensor means each comprises an orifice for issuing a stream of fluid, means for issuing a further stream of fluid toward said orifice of sufficient dynamic pressure to restrict flow of fluid from said orifice when said further stream is directed theretoward, and means for connecting said orifice to said control means to switch said fluidic means in response to restriction and termination of restriction of flow from said orifice; a source of pressurized fluid; and means for connecting said pressurized fluid and a control nozzle of different fluidic switches to different ones of said orifices, respectively.
 2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said fluidic means comprise: a. a plate; b. channels in a surface of said plate defining said fluidic means; c. a subplate sealing channels found in said plate; d. a manifold having a recessed surface defining a volume; e. said subplate being secured to said recessed surface to seal said volume; f. means supplying pressurized fluid to said volume; and g. apertures in said subplate providing communications between said pressurized fluid to said power nozzles and orifices.
 3. An edge guide for a traveling strip of material comprising: sensor means for sensing the position of said traveling strip of material in a direction transverse to the direction of travel, said sensor means including means for developing a fluid signal at first and second amplitudes, respectively, when said traveling strip of material is in first and second positions; a fluidic element including an interaction region, a power nozzle responsive to pressurized fluid applied thereto for issuing a power stream of fluid into said interaction region, an output passage positioned to receive said power stream as a function of deflection of said power stream in said interaction region, and a control passage responsive to fluid signals applied thereto for issuing a control stream to deflect said power stream as a function of the amplitude of the applied fluid signals; and means for applying the fluid signal developed at said sensor means to said control passage.
 4. The combination according to claim 3 further comprising means responsive to reception of substantially all of said power stream at said output passage for moving said traveling strip of material transverse to its direction of travel.
 5. The combination according to claim 4 further comprising means responsive to power stream fluid received by the output passage of said first fluidic element when said first fluid signal is at said first pressure for movIng said strip in said second direction, and responsive to power stream fluid received by the output passage of said second fluidic element when said second fluid signal is at said one pressure for moving said strip in said first direction.
 6. An edge guide for a traveling strip of material comprising: first sensor means for sensing displacement of said traveling strip of material from a proper position in a first direction transverse to the direction of travel of said strip, said first sensor means including means for developing a first fluid signal at a first pressure when said strip is displaced from said proper position in said first direction by at least a predetermined distance and at a second pressure when said strip is otherwise positioned; second sensor means for sensing displacement of said traveling strip of material from said proper position in a second direction opposite said first direction, said second sensor means including means for developing a second fluid signal at one pressure when said strip is displaced from said proper position in said second direction by at least a predetermined distance and at another pressure when said strip is otherwise positioned; first and second fluidic elements, each including an interaction region, a power nozzle responsive to application of pressurized fluid thereto for issuing a power stream of fluid into said interaction region, an output passage for receiving said power stream as a function of power stream deflection in said interaction region, and a control passage responsive to pressurized fluid applied thereto for issuing a control stream to deflect said power stream relative to said output passage as a function of the pressure of the applied fluid; means for applying the fluid signal developed at said first sensor means to the control passage of said first fluidic element; and means for applying the fluid signal developed at said second sensor means to the control passage of said second fluidic element. 